Mountain Democrat, Friday, October 6, 2023

Page 1

MagnuM on duty

10,000th wish granted for EDH 5-year-old

Odin Rasco Staff writer

Alarge crowd gathered as smoke billowed from a structure located off Pleasant Valley Road at around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

When El Dorado County Fire Protection District Engine 28 drove up to the site, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the county’s newest firefighter, 5-year-old Magnum Minnick, emerged from the truck ready to help.

Aided by Capt. Jamie Preston, Magnum used a fire hose to spray down the entrance and exterior of the firefighter training center — the fire was simulated to avoid

any potential risks — before heading into the dark, smoky interior.

“He had no fear entering the structure — he pushed in deep, and that was smoked out as much as it is on any of our normal

training days,” Preston said. “Visibility was at zero and he wasn’t scared at all.” Magnum’s bravery was no anomaly, as he has stayed a courageous kid in the face of many doctors’

TOT dominates budget discussion

While approving the El Dorado County’s finalized 2023-24 budget, one conversation dominated all others — how to allocate discretionary funds from the Transient Occupancy Tax.

With just more than $216,000 to work with, after discussion and lobbying on where the funds should go, the board gave direction during its Sept. 19 meeting to send $25,000 to the Coloma Lotus Business Council, $25,000 to the Shingle Springs-Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce and $29,000 to the Clean Tahoe Program in South Lake Tahoe.

The chamber, business council and Clean Tahoe almost did not receive the money. Their requests were initially deferred in favor of replenishing capital designations for projects tied to tourism impacts such as replacing the Shakori Garage that holds county snow plowing equipment, which saw costs for replacing the garage jump from $2 million to $5 million, according to Chief Administrative Officer Tiffany Schmid.

About $5.4 million in TOT funds carried over from the previous fiscal year of which more than $4.5 million will go to other appropriations, including fire districts, broadband, parks and Cal Tahoe Ambulance and Barton Health inter-facility transfers. The county also allocated more than $600,000 to hire three code enforcement officers. Another request was made by the El Dorado County Fire Protection District for $143,912 to help fund its swift water program and new helicopter rescue technician program.

Some on the board, more keen to support other tourist-related organizations and programs, lobbied for giving money to the Shingle SpringsCameron Park Chamber, which requested the money for its operations.

“They generate TOT funds with their hotels and AirBnBs. This is just a small request,” District 2

n See Budget page A7

visits. Diagnosed with Diamond Blackfan anemia, a rare bone marrow disorder, shortly after his first birthday, Magnum required a

n See magnum page A8

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Eric Jaramishian
Fire Protection District Capt. Jamie Preston aids 5-year-old
a
Tuesday as part of Magnum’s Make-A-Wish event. Magnum, an El
a day,
the 10,000th wish granted by Make-A-Wish Northeastern and Central California
Mountain Democrat photos by Odin Rasco El Dorado County
Magnum Minnick in fighting
simulated fire
Dorado Hills resident, was firefighter for
marking
and Northern Nevada.
Magnum was greeted with signs, balloons and cheers from community members, friends, family and firefighters when he arrived at Fire Station 28 to start his Wish Day.

Robert Carroll

Hendrix

Jan. 12, 1949 – Sept. 26, 2023

Robert Carroll Hendrix died peacefully at home with his family by his side on September 26, 2023.

Robert (“Bob”) was born January 12, 1949, in Benton Arkansas. He and his nine siblings were raised in Arkansas by his mother, Mable. In 1966, Bob graduated from Benton Hight School, and in 1967 he joined the United States Air Force. From 1969 to 1970, Bob was assigned to the 633rd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Pleiku Air Base, Vietnam. While stationed in Vietnam, Bob worked on the B-52 and KC 135 aircraft, and also serviced radar and communications systems. Bob received the Air Force Commendation Medal for his service and was honoroably discharged in 1971. Following his dischard, Bob worked on defense contracts at Avantek and later at Hewlett-Packard, helping build parts for planes, ships, helicopters, and the space shuttle. Bob also started his own licensed contracting business following his retirement from Hewlett-Packard. Bob loved southern fried food, golf, and his family.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Susie Hendrix, his daughter Michelle, his daughter, Stacie, his daughter-in-law, Kristin, and his three grandchildren, Charlotte (“Charlie”), Miles and Cecilia.

Bob will be laid to rest at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA in a private ceremony.

Barbara Jean Lamb

Oct. 23, 1937 –

18, 2023

Barbara Jean Lamb passed away peacefully at home with family around her on the morning of September 18, 2023, after a long illness with Parkinson’s disease. She was born October 23, 1937, in Ronan Montana. She married her husband William Lamb in June of 1956. They enjoyed 67 years of marriage.

Barbara loved being a mother and taking care of her family. She enjoyed baking and cooking. She received a blue ribbon for her peach pie at the local county fair. Her dill pickles were famous and requested by many. She always had a batch of cookies going, and they were delicious! She loved gardening, calligraphy, scrapbooking, knitting and lots of other crafts.

Barbara went to work as a special education driver in her fifties. She loved the kids in her van and enjoyed talking to them & sharing jokes.

Barbara is survived by her husband, William Lamb, 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild. She will be missed very much.

weather

George Elliot Stephenson

March 16, 1931 - Sept. 20, 2023

George Elliott Stephenson, passed away on September 20, 2023 in El Dorado Hills, CA. at the age of 92. He was born on March 16, 1931 in Detroit, MI.

Throughout his life he dedicated himself to the service of others, leaving an indelible mark as the true matriarch of the Stephenson family, and love for his long, loyal family and friends.

Following high school graduation George served in the Navy, married, and continued his education at Wayne State University earning a masters degree.

His professional journey included working in law enforcement with the Dearborn Police Department, moving to California where he joined Beverly Hills Department and later, Sergeant with the LA County Sheri Department.

During his career, George was involved in Dale Carnegie programs and was Kepner Tregoe instructor at Ford Motor Company ending his career being a financial planner with Cigna and CENCO Financial Services.

A man of faith, George found solace and inspiration as a member of the Federated Church and participating in the choir with wife Lillian.

While George achieved great heights professionally, his true joy and purpose came from being a devoted husband to his beloved wife Lillian for 72 years, and a loving father to son George II and daughter Valerie. He was adored by his three grand children, granddaughter Trinity Joy Gleckler and husband Michael, grandson George E. Stephenson III and wife Melody, who gave him the proud title of great grandfather to five great grandsons, and finally grand daughter Laine Evion Ashker, granddaughter Sydney Perez and grandson Grant Perez, all of whom made him so proud.

A Memorial service will be held in George’s honor at Green Valley Mortuary in Rescue, CA. Friday, October 13 at 11:00 a.m., reception to follow. Those interested in attending please RSVP by Thursday, October 5, 2023 at manhoknows@aol.com with “Memorial” in the subject line.

Shirley Louise Bath

Aug. 29, 1932 – Sept. 24, 2023

Shirley Louise Bath was born August 29, 1932, in San Leandro, CA, and passed peacefully on September 24, 2023, in Placerville, CA, at the age of 91, with her three children by her side. She was pre-deceased by her husband Fred and a sister and is survived by a sister, three children, five grandchildren, and five greatgrandchildren. Shirley lived a long life of faith, family, and service to others. She was an active leader in 4-H, Scouts, and the Cattlewomen’s Association, and in addition to her ranch duties, she was a regular substitute teacher in Big Valley schools. Shirley was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend to all. She will be greatly missed.

There will be a celebration of life in Adin, CA, at the community center on October 28 from 2 pm-4 pm. The family would appreciate those who can attend to share a short story or memory and a copy of any pictures you would like to share. If you cannot participate and would like to share, please email markbath56@gmail.com. A donation to the Shriners Hospital for Children would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.

CRIME LOG

The following was taken from El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office logs:

Sept. 20

7:22 p.m. Battery was reported on Magpie Court in Placerville.

10:42 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 28-year-old woman suspected of DUI causing injury and driving without a license on Cambridge Road in Cameron Park. She was listed in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail.

8:41 p.m. Battery was reported at a pub on Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs.

11:36 p.m. Battery was reported on Forni Road in Diamond Springs.

11:42 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 28-year-old man suspected of vandalism and possession of brass knuckles on Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Sept. 21

12:34 a.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 38-year-old woman suspected of DUI and hit and run causing property damage on Product Drive in Shingle Springs. She was later released.

8 a.m. Battery was reported on Tiger Lane in Georgetown.

9:25 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 40-year-old man suspected of possession of a stolen vehicle and driving on a suspended license on Rock Lane in River Pines. He was listed in custody.

10:22 a.m. Battery was reported on Patterson Drive in Diamond Springs.

10:31 p.m. Battery was reported at a school on Windplay Drive in El Dorado Hills.

10:49 a.m. Deputies made an arrest after responding to a trespassing report on Broadway in Placerville.

10:57 a.m. Grand theft was reported on Paloma Road in Camino.

11:11 p.m. Battery was reported at a school on Merrychase Drive in Cameron Park.

11:24 p.m. Burglary was reported at an apartment complex on Cimmarron Road in Cameron Park.

12:11 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 40-year-old man suspected of grand theft, receiving known stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and a felony probation violation on Latrobe Road in El Dorado Hills. He was listed in custody.

1:01 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 33-year-old man suspected of possession of a substance similar to toluene on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. He was later released.

1:39 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 56-year-old man suspected of possession of illegal drug paraphernalia and a felony

LAKE LEVELS

probation violation on Broadway in Placerville. He was listed in custody.

2:43 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 44-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance and illegal drug paraphernalia and destroying/ concealing evidence on Highway 50 at Bass Lake Road in El Dorado Hills. He was released on $10,000 bail.

4:01 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 28-year-old man suspected of driving without a license on Highway 50 at Cambridge Road in Cameron Park. He was released on $12,000 bail.

5:19 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 54-year-old man suspected of a felony probation violation on Cedar Ravine Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $25,000 bail.

7:21 p.m. Battery was reported on China Garden Road in Diamond Springs.

9:34 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 54-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on Country Club Drive in Cameron Park. He was later released.

Sept. 22

12:49 a.m. Battery was reported on Montclair Road in Cameron Park.

10:25 a.m. Burglary was reported at a business on Wild Chaparral Drive in Shingle Springs.

12:33 p.m. Burglary was reported at a business on Sanders Drive in Pollock Pines.

3:46 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 37-year-old man suspected of burglary on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines. He was listed in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail.

5:11 p.m. Deputies made an arrest after responding to a trespassing report on Lindberg Avenue in Placerville.

5:25 p.m. Battery was reported at the high school on Koki Lane in El Dorado.

5:55 p.m. Battery was reported at a business on Coach Lane in Cameron Park.

6:19 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Freedom Road in Placerville.

9:04 p.m. Battery was reported on Kruk Trail in Placerville.

9:52 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 63-year-old man suspected of driving on a suspended license on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville. He was listed in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail.

11:07 p.m. Battery was reported on Day Break Way in El Dorado.

Sept. 23

6:37 a.m. Vandalism was reported at a business on Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park.

8:30 a.m. Vandalism was reported at a business on Heights Court in Cameron Park.

4:24 p.m. Burglary was reported on Meadow Lane in Placerville.

5-day FOreCaSt

Obituaries on this page are written and paid for by the families or funeral homes. They are edited minimally by the Mountain Democrat. To submit an obituary, call (530) 622-1255, e-mail obits@mtdemocrat.net, fax (530) 344-5092, or visit mtdemocrat.com under “Submission Forms” at the bottom of the website. Include contact information with all submissions. ESSENTIALS A2 Friday, October 6, 2023 Mountain Democrat mtdemocrat.com OBITUARIES
Of ce Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m 530-622-1255 / Fax: 530-622-7894 Toll-Free from El Dorado Hills: 888-622-1255 MISSED DELIVERY Call 530-344-5000. If you have not received your paper. leave us a message, we’ll return your call. VACATION HOLDS For temporary delivery hold, call at least one week prior to the rst day to be stopped or visit mtdemocrat.com and click “Vacation Hold Request” at the bottom of the website. SUBSCRIPTION RATES Call 530-344-5000 to subscribe 3 mos. 6 mos. 1 yr. 2 yrs. $39 +tax $70 +tax $120 +tax $220 +tax CONTACT US Richard B. Esposito Publisher (530) 344-5055 / resposito@mtdemocrat.net Krysten Kellum Editor 530-344-5072 / kkellum@mtdemocrat.net Noel Stack Managing Editor 530-344-5073 / nstack@villagelife.net Mimi Escabar Special Sections Editor 530-344-5070 / mescabar@mtdemocrat.net Eric Jaramishian Staff writer 530-344-5063 / eric@mtdemocrat.com Odin Rasco Staff writer 530-344-5062 / odin@mtdemocrat.com Isaac Streeter Staff writer 530-344-5058 / isaac@mtdemocrat.com GRAPHICS Letty Bejarano-Carvajal Graphics Manager (530) 344-5049 / lettyb@mtdemocrat.net Mountain Democrat MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT (ISSN 0745-7677) – Published Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for $120.00 per year (plus tax) by carrier, or by mail (includes applicable tax) in El Dorado County (other rates available upon request) by Mountain Democrat, Inc., 2889 Ray Lawyer Drive, Placerville, CA 95667. Periodical Postage Paid at Placerville, CA. Post Master: Send address changes to the Mountain Democrat, P. O. Box 1088, Placerville, CA 95667 Click “Staff Directory” at the bottom of mtdemocrat.com for full staff directory 530-626-1399 384 Placerville Dr, Ste. B • Placerville Porch Pirate Safety Zone! Now offering a SAFE place for your packages. Have your packages delivered here at NO CHARGE! Solving problems… it’s what we do! Since 1984! New & Refurbished Computers Sales and Service El Dorado Funeral & Cremation Services 530-748-3715 (24/7) • 1004 Marshall Way, Placerville, CA 95667 (between Cedar Ravine & Marshall Hospital) PlacervilleFuneralandCremation.com Direct Cremation from $1,300 Immediate Burial Service from $1,560 Honest, up-front pricing. Don’t be overcharged or misled! FD-2299 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday HigH: 89 Low: 67° HigH: 90 Low: 68° HigH: 88 Low: 62° HigH: 74 Low: 59° HigH: 67 Low: 54° A mainly sunny sky. High 89F. w inds wSw at 5 to 10 mph. Sunny. High near 90F. w inds Sw at 5 to 10 mph. Sunny. High 88F. w inds SSw at 5 to 10 mph. A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 74F. w inds SSw at 5 to 10 mph. Showers in the morning, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 67F. winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
South Lake Tahoe 78/37
El Dorado Hills Cameron Park 89/64 Diamond Springs 89/67 Somerset 88/66 Fair Play 90/67 Placerville 89/67 Coloma 92/70 Georgetown 86/64 Camino 85/63 Pollock Pines 83/61 Map shows today’s Highs and overnight Lows
PLaCerVILLe
Sept.
Stumpy Meadows Reservoir as of Oct. 4 Water storage 18,856 acre-feet Percent full 89% Inflow 23.12 cfs Outflow 18.44 cfs Folsom Reservoir as of Oct. 3 Water storage 655,746 acre-feet Percent full 67% Inflow 898 cfs Outflow 3,123 cfs Union Valley as of Oct. 3 Water storage 171,896 acre-feet Percent full 65% Inflow - cfs Outflow - cfs Loon Lake as of Oct. 3 Water storage 45,335 acre-feet Percent full 65% Inflow - cfs Outflow - cfs Ice House as of Oct. 3 Water storage 31,094 acre-feet Percent full 71% Inflow 6 cfs Outflow - cfs Lake Aloha as of Oct. 5 Water storage 827 acre-feet Percent full 17% Inflow 5 cfs Outflow 5 cfs Caples Lake as of Oct. 5 Water storage 19,881 acre-feet Percent full 89% Inflow 3.07 cfs Outflow 6.73 cfs Echo Lake as of Oct. 5 Water storage 1,900 acre-feet Percent full 98% Inflow 0 cfs Outflow 1.98 cfs Silver Lake as of Oct. 5 Water storage 5,886 acre-feet Percent full 68% Inflow 0 cfs Outflow 4.81 cfs Sly Park as of Oct. 5 Water storage 35,367 acre-feet Percent Full 86.2% Inflow 7.57 cfs Outflow 39.29 cfs American River as of Oct. 5 Flow 91.63 cfs

NEUROPATHY

We

What Causes It?

Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves often causing weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and may also lead to serious balance problems.

This damage is commonly caused by a lack of blood ow to the nerves in the hands and feet. If not properly treated this lack of blood ow may cause the nerves to degenerate.

Healthy Nerve

Healthy Blood Vessels

Diseased Blood Vessels

Nerves Shrivel when Blood Vessels Weak and Disappear Figure 1

As you can see in Figure 1, as the blood vessels surrounding the nerves become diseased they shrink and shrivel. This process hastens the ow of vital nutrients to the nerves required to remain healthy. When these nerves begin to “die” it could lead to balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling and burning symptoms in the hands and feet.

In order to effectively treat your neuropathy 3 factors must be determined.

What is the underlying cause? 1

How much nerve damage has been sustained? 2

How much treatment will your condition require? 3

Placerville, CA – Currently the most common method most doctor’s recommend to treat neuropathy is with the use of prescription drugs. Although these drugs may temporarily reduce your symptoms they may cause a feeling of discomfort and in some cases lead to a variety of terrible unwanted side effects. We have a different method!

Our advanced treatment method has 3 main goals

Increase Blow ow 1

Stimulate small ber nerves 2

Decrease brain based pain 3

The treatment to increase blood ow utilizes a specialized low-level light therapy (not to be confused with laser therapy) using light emitting diode technology. This technology was originally developed by NASA to assist in increasing blow ow.

The low level light therapy is like watering a tree. The light therapy will allow the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerves and provide them with the proper nutrients to heal and repair. It’s like adding water to a tree and seeing the roots grow deeper and deeper. The amount of treatment needed to allow the nerves to fully recover varies from person to person and can only be determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation.

“My feet hurt so bad after sitting I could barely take the rst few steps. I have had 11 treatments and no longer feel sharp or shooting pains and most of the tingling is gone. I now have full balance and can walk without pain. As Dr. Mooney explained the treatment is not painful, nothing uncomfortable, and is actually very relaxing.” – Neuropathy Pain Patient

Food, Beer & Wine Tasting Friday, October 20 4 PM to 8 PM FREE TO THE PUBLI C Awards StateLuncheon of the CountyOctoberAddress 11am-1pm18 Call for Reservations El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce 530-621-5885 or www.eldoradocounty.org El Dorado County Fairgrounds Forni Building El Dorado County’s Best Businesses EL DORADO COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FINALLY, Medicare & Most Insurance Companies Pay for Treatment of Neuropathy! CALL NOW 530-622-3536
CONDITION!
IS A PROGRESSIVE
DRUG FREE TREATMENT AVAILABLE. ACT NOW
are one of 280 clinics nationwide that specialize in the treatment of neuropathy Drug Free Treatment Method
John Mooney, DC at Premier Healthcare will do a neuropathy severity examination to determine the extent of the nerve damage for only $47. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE PAIN! CALL TODAY! John M. Mooney, D.C. QME 1980 Broadway, Placerville Call 530-622-3536 NeuropathyPlacerville.com Most major health insurances are accepted, including BCBS, Aetna, Humana, and Medicare. mtdemocrat.com Mountain Democrat Friday, October 6, 2023 A3 2010 Mountain Democrat 2022 Thank you “BesT FruiT & Veggie Farm” For VoTing us The BesT For readers’ ChoiCe 2022 2952 Carson Rd. • Placerville, CA 95667 • ( 530 ) 622-5522 boavistaorchards@gmail.com • www.boavista.com Open Everyday • 7:30 am - 6:00 pm Serrano showcase
Photos by Mitchell Weitzman The Niello Concours at Serrano brought all sorts of classic and collectable cars to the Serrano Visitor Center in El Dorado Hills Sunday, Oct. 1. The car show featured models of Porsches and Lamborghinis, however the 2023 Best Of Show was awarded to a 1937 Packard 150, not pictured, owned by Lorenzo Nannini of Pine Grove.
Santa Rosa resident Walter Schmidt rolled into town in his original 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, a Mopar legend.
Porsche 356s, above, are lined up for the Concours. The model was the first road car from Porsche that cemented the brand’s success. Two of the world’s fastest cars ever were on display, right photo, a Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport, far right, and Rimac Nevera Time Attack Edition, second from right.
Car show judges Chris Oldag, Skip Quain and Morris Lum, from left, inspect a 1965 Corvette.

Legislature whiffs on insurance crisis

Before the California Legislature adjourned last month, it managed to fulfill most wishes of majority Democrats’ favorite interest groups, most notably labor unions. However, legislators left town without doing anything concrete about something that threatens the psychological and economic wellbeing of millions of homeowners and those who aspire to ownership: the rapidly shrinking availability of residential fire insurance.

One by one, insurers have been reducing or eliminating their exposure in California, having paid out billions of dollars to cover losses from years of major wildfires and, they say, facing a fire threat that is likely to increase with climate change.

With Gov. Gavin Newsom and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara involved in the background, there were weeks of private negotiations among legislators, insurance lobbyists and other stakeholders on how to bolster the state’s insurance market.

Letters to the Editor

Support our community center

EDITOR:

The Pollock Pines Community Center needs residents’ help if it is to stay open. Support from the community is a must for this to happen. We need a positive response from the community if the center is to stay open. Please attend the important general membership meeting Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m.

summary

The state Legislature adjourned ... without resolving the issue facing homeowners and their declining ability to acquire fire insurance. A move by the insurance commissioner to try and intervene seemed to double down on a major tradeoff.

However, the negotiations ended a week before the Legislature adjourned without agreement, signaled when state Sen. Bill Dodd, a Democrat whose Napa-centered district is one of the state’s most fire-prone regions, sent a text message: “Deal is dead. Very frustrating.”

The discussions revolved about changing the way insurers calculate risk, from basing it on past experience to including potential future risk. Such a change would probably increase premiums and legislators wanted ironclad assurances that the companies would continue writing policies in fire-prone areas if the change was made.

As the session ended, there were public assurances that the issue would not be forgotten.

“We hear loud and clear from our residents that access to insurance is a problem,” Assembly

n See Walters, page A5

Guest Column

Your community center needs your help to keep our doors open and our activities running. In this meeting I will share with all attendees the volunteer opportunities available at the center. Your center does important work in our community. Here are a few items the center is responsible for:

• Red Cross evacuation center

• Staging area for all emergency agencies in case of disaster/emergencies

• Placer Food Bank, second Wednesday each month

• Safeway food giveaway, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday

• PG&E resource center during public safety power shutoffs

• EDC/PG&E cooling and warming center (on call)

• EDC Senior Nutrition Program, Monday through Friday

• Taco Fiesta dinners, first Friday April-October

• See’s Candy Sales

• Wagon Train

• Free holiday dinners

• Bingo, Tuesdays 5:15-9:30 p.m.

• Special fundraising events/activities

• Room rentals for private and public events/ meetings, etc.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you on Oct 9. Together we can keep our center working and serving the community.

This is not fine

EDITOR:

The recent public comments made to the Board of Supervisors regarding the rescinding of American Christian Heritage

Month are disturbing, to say the least. What is as disturbing is Mr. Hidahl’s remark that the message is fine, but the way it was expressed is not.

Does Mr. Hidahl really mean that if commenters had nicely remarked, minus the profanity, that they hate Jews and people of color that it would be acceptable? Is furthering ridiculous conspiracy theories, minus profanity, acceptable? Is denigrating entire groups of people, minus profanity, going to be acceptable at Board of Supervisors meetings moving forward?

I understand it is everyone’s right to freely express their opinion, but for a county supervisor to openly endorse the message behind the recent profane remarks is an open invitation to continue public hate speech. Shame on you, Mr. Hidahl. Your speech and your actions are an embarrassment to this county.

El Dorado County strong

EDITOR:

Ihave lived in Placerville for 23 years.

When I first arrived here, it was like something out of Rivendell in a JRR Tolkien novel. Placerville was an enchanted place, evergreen, ever peaceful.

Dear neighbors, each of us can be a caring angel and a peace pilgrim. We, the people of good faith, can stand united for peace.

What is freedom of speech?

Yes. People have the right to yell. But they don’t have the right to yell “fire” in a crowded movie theater.

And they certainly don’t have the right to yell words that hurt. That’s not freedom of speech. That’s called abuse, assault, harassment, etc.

People should not confuse freedom of speech with “lack of personal responsibility.”

El Dorado County has always stood strong against hate. It’s who we are as a compassionate, welcoming community.

I felt such sadness when I heard of the recent event that occurred on Sept. 26, during the open forum section of the Board of Supervisors meeting. Hate-filled vitriol must not be confused with

n See letters, page A5

When it comes to government ... shut it down

This week Republicans and Democrats got together to avert a government shutdown.

Too bad.

There’s so much that ought to be shut down.

Useless cabinet departments, for example, like Housing and Urban Development, Labor and Agriculture. Agriculture employs almost 100,000 people. Why? Independent farmers grow our food. They don’t need a giant department.

Let’s get rid of the Department of Education, too. Why does it even exist? Education is a local responsibility and none of the federal government’s business. Yet its spending is up 300% over the last 10 years.

The department didn’t even exist before 1979. Has education improved since then? No. Government’s grand plans, like No Child Left Behind and

Common Core, helped no one but bureaucrats. Trying to justify itself, the department funded studies of everyone’s favorite government program, Head Start. The “experts” were surprised to learn that the much-praised program has no effect. By third grade, there was no difference between kids that attend and those who don’t.

Education is best left to local governments and parents.

We don’t need a Commerce Department. After all, commerce just happens. Get rid of the bureaucrats and sell the buildings.

Get rid of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

I know, Medicare is popular. “Free” stuff always is. But government’s current health promises are unsustainable. As we live longer and want the newest and best medicines, Medicare is on track to go broke.

I’m on Medicare. I get everything my doctor suggests. I never even ask about price. That’s insane.

Medicare and Social Security take money from the young and give it to those of us who had decades to invest and save. That’s just unfair.

Let people shop for free-market plans. Let the market work.

Once people pay their own bills, competition will drive prices down. Health care would be less confusing and bureaucratic.

Abolish the Food and Drug Administration. It’s a big reason drugs are so expensive. It was created years ago when people were hurt by quack medicines. But today we have the internet; sites like Drugs.com let us decide for ourselves if we want to risk taking a drug. Get rid of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the destructive War on Drugs. The DEA spends $3

billion a year and does little but raise the price of drugs, switching users from drugs like heroin to deadlier things like fentanyl.

Did we learn nothing from Prohibition? Banning liquor created Al Capone and organized crime.

Today there are no beer gangs or vodka cartels only because alcohol is legal.

The drug warriors’ rules don’t protect us from drugs. They mostly enrich murderous drug cartels.

Get rid of subsidies for NPR and PBS.

Kill the Export-Import Bank and the Small Business Administration. Businesses should operate on their own. They shouldn’t get handouts and dubious advice from government bureaucrats.

Privatize air traffic control. Canada

n See stossel, page A5

A4 Friday, October 6, 2023 Mountain Democrat mtdemocrat.com The Mountain Democrat welcomes letters up to 300 words. Letters may be edited. We reserve the right to edit submissions. Include your name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Email: editor@ mtdemocrat.net Snail Mail: Letters to the Editor P. O. Box 1088, Placerville 95667 Main Office: 2889 Ray Lawyer Drive Placerville 95667 OPINION Richard B. Esposito Publisher Krysten Kellum Editor Noel Stack Managing Editor
California Matters
DAn WALTErS
I know, Medicare is popular. “Free” stuff always is. But government’s current health promises are unsustainable.

Walters Continued from A4 Speaker Robert Rivas said in a statement. The Legislature’s departure punted the issue, at least for a few months, to Lara and Newsom, who said, “We can do a lot of things. And I’m very mindful. We can do all of that.”

However, Newsom didn’t list any specifics. He recently issued an executive order urging Lara to “take action to stabilize and improve California’s property insurance marketplace.”

Almost immediately, Lara issued new rate-setting regulations, which he had described earlier as “a package of regulatory solutions that will streamline the department’s rate review process, opening it equitably to public input — not just the entrenched interests that have benefited materially from the status quo.”

Newsom, Lara and the regulations drew praise from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, which stated, “Everyone understands that California’s insurance market is in a spiraling crisis that requires immediate policy solutions to protect consumer access to the coverage they need.”

Given industry support, it’s likely that the new regulations will allow it to include, at least to some extent, estimates of future risk from wildfires in their rates which would probably lead to premium increases.

Newsom stopped short of declaring an emergency in his executive order, which would have given Lara the authority to issue new rate-setting rules without going through the usual procedural hoops.

Earlier, Consumer Watchdog, the organization

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

Crossword

that sponsored a 1988 overhaul of insurance regulation, Proposition 103, and has been a critic of Lara from virtually his first day on the job, issued a warning to Newsom and Lara about proceeding on an emergency basis.

Later, the organization said, Lara’s move “would allow insurance companies to use secret algorithms to set rates for homeowners’ coverage for wildfire and to add reinsurance costs to premiums will lead to higher insurance premiums.”

So there it is, a complex mélange of economic, political and societal factors and a huge tradeo between the availability of coverage, which is mandatory for anyone having a mortgage, and the costs.

Dan Walters is a journalist and author who writes for CALmatters.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Letters Continued from A4 freedom of speech.

May the good people of El Dorado County, may all houses of worship, may all residents of El Dorado County gather together as neighbors for the sake of healing and peace.

We are El Dorado County strong and we have always been strong as a compassionate, caring community.

Edited

Announcements

AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 334-2970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot. comt

AMERICAN ASSOC. OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN Foothills of EDC Branch. Our mission is to advance gender equity for women & girls. Science and Math Camp Scholarships, programs & interest groups. Leave voicemail for Laurel (530) 417-7737 or Sara (530) 417-7138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net

El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR

RADIO CLUB Dedicated to all aspects of ham radio. Meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at the El Dorado Sheriff’s office, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, 6:30 pm. Visitors and non-hams welcome. Info at www.edcarc.net

LEARN & PLAY CRIBBAGE Cribbage is a fun, fast paced game that will surely keep you on your toes! **All skill levels **Learn to play by ACC Rules (American Cribbage Congress) **Beginner instruction available **Compete in weekly Cribbage tournaments. Call 916-768-4452 for more information. Gold Country Cribbers play Wednesday afternoon 4:30 pm at Steve’s Pizza, 3941 Park Dr., El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762

Struggle with a hurt, hang up, or habit? CELEBRATE RECOVERY meets at Radiant Church on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm, 4602 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville. We are a Christ centered recovery program to find healing from our hurts, hang ups, and habits. Email CR@radiantedc.church. Find us on Facebook at: https://www. facebook.com/CRradiantchurch.

Struggling with life? CELEBRATE RECOVERY is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@ greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/

DEMOCRATS – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Call (530)391-6414 or see edcdems. org for more information.

GOLD RUSH CHORUS now welcomes both men and women to share the joy of singing fourpart harmony in the barbershop style. To learn more or to book a performance, call Howard at (530) 647-6513 or Kent (530) 651-3575

Hangtown Women’s TENNIS Club. Join fun-loving women Wednesdays 8am-10am at El Dorado High School. Lessons, social events, only $50/year. Call Cindy 805-540-8654.

MONDAY CLUB BRIDGE seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10:00 am. For more information, call (530) 622-1180.

Addiction or Relationship problem? Call 530 231-7728 our free counseling can help you. Positive Realism, 3430 Robin Ln., Cameron Park. Meet first and third Wednesday of every month, 7pm.

SENIOR PEER COUNSELING

Seniors 55 and over who are grieving, depressed or having issues related to aging can meet one-on-one with a caring senior, professionally supervised and trained to listen and encourage. Call (530)6216304 to leave a message and get started.

TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION OF EL DORADO COUNTY

Our mission is to educate the public on tax issues that affect them. Our meetings are held every Monday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 at Denny’s Restaurant, Fair Lane Drive, Placerville. Meetings are open to the public. For more information call Louis (530) 622-6763. We are a nonpartisan organization.

Stossel Continued from A4

and dozens of other countries already did, and their systems are safer and work better. That would save $2 billion, and your flight would be more likely to arrive on time.

Likewise, privatize Amtrak. Save $7 billion.

Privatize the post o ce. Today there are lots of better alternatives.

Of course, I’m dreaming. Government programs don’t get shut down. They just grow.

Washington claims every one of its activities is crucially important. But that’s nonsense.

If the Nov. 17 deadline isn’t met and the government shuts down, will you even notice?

Few outside the media and the Washington bureaucracy noticed the last shutdown.

Social Security, Medicare, the Postal Service, air tra c control, the passport agency and irresponsible lending to college students will continue during a “government shutdown.”

Democrats, sleazily, say they’d close national parks. That’s a government product that people definitely like. But they are outdoors! It’s stupid to close the gates (Donald Trump didn’t close them when government shut down during his term).

They’ll close parks because Democrats and many Republicans want to convince us that everything good comes from government.

It doesn’t.

Go ahead. Shut most of it down.

Every Tuesday at JohnStossel.com, Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom.

TheGold Mine

ANSWER

mtdemocrat.com Mountain Democrat Friday, October 6, 2023 A5
ACROSS 1 Food Network host ___ Brown 6 Channel owned by Paramount, for short 9 Sharp 14 Got excited over the newest video game release, say 16 Sanskrit for “force” 17 Stone-faced sorts? 18 Adams with a Presidential Medal of Freedom 19 “In that case …” 20 Rapper with the 2012 #1 album “Life Is Good” 21 Discounted 22 The corner of one is called a canthus 23 Form of some soaps 24 Most popular baby boy’s name of the 2000s 25 Disaster 29 City parks and plazas, say 32 Sound from a saxophone 33 ___ Yello (drink) 34 Daybreak? 35 The late Mrs. Flanders on “The Simpsons” 36 Alice ___, 20th-century women’s suffrage activist 37 Commence 39 Trademark difference-maker 41 Tears up 42 Succeed, as a suggestion 43 Eponymous Belgian town 46 Work periods 48 Agcy. within the Dept. of Transportation 49 Light up? 50 Was committed 51 “Phooey!” 53 Biopharmaceutical giant in the Fortune 200 54 Rhyming assent 55 Inventor of the first commercially successful steel plow 56 Montgomery of jazz 57 Bids one club, say DOWN 1 Longhorn’s longtime rival 2 Like many salads 3 Abrupt 4 Indie band whose name is a twoword command 5 Prefix with -plasm 6 Building installations that work with beams 7 Choices for painters 8 They’re even at the start, in brief 9 Outside ___ 10 Malicious programs that block file access 11 “Wow, would you look at that!” 12 Silverstein who wrote the words and music for Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue” 13 Lager descriptor 15 Ball of energy 21 Nonfruit ingredients in some healthful smoothies 23 Pro ___ 24 Some adventures in the Serengeti 25 Place where employees may all be holding together? 26 Assessors of verbal reasoning, in brief 27 Word with bright or blind 28 Winter Olympics sight 29 Calls balls, say 30 Gather 31 Range mentioned in “Take Me Home, Country Roads” 35 Department store eponym 37 Traipses (about) 38 First Southeastern Conference school to field an African American athlete 40 Say a prayer, maybe 43 Business interest 44 Name on 2008 campaign stickers 45 City east of Montpellier 46 Roe source 47 Unlike a mustang 48 Charlatan 49 “Oh, you flatter me!” 51 Index since 1896, with “the” 52 One way to say “yes” PUZZLE BY ROBERT LOGAN Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay. ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Friday, October 6, 2023
by Will Shortz No. 0901
Friday, October 6, 2023 ACROSS 1 No-brainer? 7 Seabird that can be tufted or horned 13 Words that might be followed by “Hear! Hear!” 14 Pepper with a “delayed fuse” 15 Toy that’s not really a toy? 16 Lost at strip poker 17 It has triangular blades 18 Susceptible to burning, in a way 19 Hot ___ 20 Not needing to work 23 Half a laugh 25 Herd : buffalo :: bob : ___ 26 Good name for a gallery owner 30 Call from a server, maybe 32 “Oversharing alert!” 33 Flies like flies 34 Statement from someone you should probably respond to with skepticism 37 Fertile Crescent feeder 38 Most common evening for “Dateline NBC” during its threedecade run: Abbr. 39 It has a triangular blade 40 Like Staten Island on a New York City subway map 41 Campus noob 43 Abbr. on a paper tray 44 Oxford English Dictionary’s Word of the Year in 2022, describing an unapologetically self-indulgent state 47 Get high 50 Thinks of with buyer’s remorse, say 51 Acquisition in Monopoly 54 Snack crackers since 1921 56 Legacy competitor 57 Publicity, of a sort 58 “Sure … I guess” 59 Gives a leg up 60 Foraged delicacies DOWN 1 Irradiates 2 Platte Valley people 3 They might go to extremes 4 One means of gaining access 5 Much of Tonga 6 Bastille Day saison 7 Eponymous German bacteriologist 8 Mantel piece 9 Cinematic specification 10 Phony 11 Agnes, in Argentina 12 Quick greetings 14 Gets dirty 16 Top-selling concession item at San Francisco’s Oracle Park 18 Gets in a lather 21 Some Greek cheeses 22 Fuss (over) 23 The world’s first Black-led republic 24 Replying to emails, scheduling meetings, etc., informally 27 Shocked reaction 28 “Just the check” 29 Perfume part 31 “I’d do it again!” 33 Quake 35 Nickname that can be a diminutive of a family member 36 Smooths, as silk 41 Alternative to a tulip glass 42 Holiday cheer? 45 They may be held during the national anthem 46 Giving sort 47 One crossing the line 48 Reds state 49 Bubbly chocolate bar brand 52 Shorthand for unnamed co-authors 53 Macaulay’s “___ of Ancient Rome” 55 Unwanted spot, informally 56 Grand total PUZZLE BY REBECCA GOLDSTEIN Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.
PREVIOUS
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Saturday, October 7, 2023 Edited by Will Shortz No. 0902 Crossword Saturday, October 7, 2023
TO
PUZZLE
Published bi-monthly in the Mountain Democrat and Village Life

time to retire

The Korzan family would like to thank our friends and customers for supporting our family business, The Sanitex Cleaners. We have been in business for over 70 years. The Korzan Brothers; Mike, Pat & Theodore, like our parents Dale & Ida, have enjoyed serving the community of Placerville and the greater El Dorado County area. For many various reasons we are closing The Sanitex Cleaners at the end of the 2023 year. We hope that downtown Placerville business community continues to thrive and we wish everyone a farewell.

With gratitude, The Korzan Family

*If you think you have cleaning at our business, please call (530) 622-4755 or come by and pick up your clothes before December 31, 2023.

(530) 622-4755

369 Main Street, Placerville

Two guilty in EDH wall safe burglary

Mountain Democrat staff

A jury has convicted Brian Faddis and Rachel Leventin of first-degree burglary in a case that found the two in 2019 cut a safe containing between $55,000 and $60,000 in cash out of the wall of an El Dorado Hills home.

According to information from the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, El Dorado Hills homeowners on May 4, 2019, came home to see a suspicious vehicle pulling away from the front of their home. A neighbor informed the homeowners the man driving the vehicle had just come from their backyard. The homeowners discovered the burglar entered the home through a hole that was cut in the garage wall. They also found the wall safe in the closet had been cut out and stolen. The safe contained personal documents as well as the tens of thousands of

dollars in cash. Using DNA evidence found on a dust mask left behind in a bathroom, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office investigators were able to place Faddis at the scene, according to the DA’s Office. Further investigation revealed Faddis, a Roseville area resident, had been pulled over in a vehicle with Leventin May 27, 2019, when Placer County sheriff’s deputies reported finding more than $26,000 in Leventin’s possession and two hand-drawn maps that showed an overhead view of the victims’ home. Additionally, Leventin was found to have a relationship with one of the homeowners.

The jury’s verdict came Sept. 28 in El Dorado County Superior Court Department 1 before Judge Thomas A. Smith. Prosecuting the case was deputy district attorney Brittany Griffith. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 17 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 1.

Prescribed burn planned for Tobacco Gulch area

U.S. Forest Service News release

Taking advantage of favorable weather conditions Eldorado National Forest officials are planning an understory prescribed firing

operation in the Tobacco Gulch Ecological Restoration Project area, 3 miles east of Georgetown in the vicinity of Darling Ridge, Mace Mill and Balderston roads. Operations will occur the week of Oct. 9 through Oct. 14.

A6 Friday, October 6, 2023 Mountain Democrat mtdemocrat.com Your Satisfaction Is Our #1 Priority! Thank You For Voting Us #1 “BEST PLUMBING” Company! We Do It All & We Do It Right Locally Owned & Operated (530) 622-0202 6080 Pleasant Valley Road, El Dorado CA Lic. #: 839956 Service You Can Trust For All Your Plumbing Needs: ★ Background Checked ★ Honest & Dependable ★ Experienced Technicians ★ Pride In Workmanship ★ 24 Hours A Day ★ 7 Days A Week Senior Discounts Available! 2010 Mountain Democrat 2022 OSCAR 57th National Mother Lode Art Exhibition - CALL TO ARTISTSnationalmotherlodeart@gmail.com Show Dates: November 2 - 18, 2023 P RESENTS T HE 16 A WARDS $3250 C ASH A WARDS $500 B EST OF S HOW Left to right, Award Winners 2022: Best of Show - Kitchen Chaos I by Karen Burns Award of Excellence - Recovery by Joyce Sakato Rau Anita Wolff Memorial Award - Dog Beach by Jeannine Bringman

Supervisor George Turnboo said. District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl also expressed favor for supporting West Slope chambers.

“If we can see that an investment is bringing back tourist dollars and generating tax revenue ... to me that is tangible,” Hidahl said. “(If we can) estimate what the tangible revenue increases are to the county, whether they be in sales tax revenue or in some other form, to try to help us understand that providing money we are going to see that money come back by normal projections in some way ... that is where I would support these kinds of things.”

Other supervisors, wanting to treat all West Slope chambers fairly, were less enthusiastic allocating the money to the Shingle SpringsCameron Park Chamber.

“My recollection is their ask was mostly just for their regular operating expenses, which I’m not sure we should go there,” Parlin said, who urged the board to consider allocating money to the Coloma Lotus Business Council.

Parlin noted the council had been conducting a study on bringing in more tourists to the Coloma area before COVID-19 pandemic hit, along with the ensuing shutdowns.

“COVID delayed that study for a couple of years and they lost momentum,” Parlin added. “In my mind, this (ask) makes sense to me.”

Colette Teal, president of the Shingle Springs-Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce, championed for the funding, stating visitors stop into the chamber’s office and use its website seeking information on tourism information for the county.

“We are also an avenue for economic development in the Shingle Springs and Cameron Park area,” Teal said. “Like all Western Slope chambers, we are working hard to support our local businesses that come into the community.”

District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine, requested the board allocate money for the Clean Tahoe Program, which removes trash in South Lake Tahoe, calling it a clear impact of tourism.

“It is a very small ask from the Clean Tahoe Program for a $29,000 designation, certainly in regards to impacts to tourism ... trash is way up there,” Laine said. “The Clean Tahoe program for over 20 years has been receiving the exact same amount from the taxpayers with no change.”

Clean Tahoe gets revenue from small taxes paid by South Lake Tahoe homeowners. There is talk of the program reaching out to the community to raise the funds for continued operation, according to Laine.

Most of the allocations were approved unanimously, with Parlin and Board Chair Wendy Thomas both disagreeing with allocating funds to the Shingle SpringsCameron Park Chamber.

Other budget action

A contribution of $77,555 from the General Fund will go to the Placerville Aquatic Center.

Thomas, whose district oversees the city of Placerville, requested the board support funding the city’s pool, “recognizing how important it is to the kids in our community to have a city, county pool that they can go to.”

In other discussion of the adopted budget, Chief Administrative Office analyst Emma Owens said the county saw a decrease in discretionary sales

COMiCS

tax revenue by 7% from the previous fiscal year.

“We were already pretty conservative in our budget of only $9 million of this discretionary revenue, so we didn’t need to change the budget because we still had just over $9 million this year,” Owens told the board. “Hopefully there won’t be more of a decrease and that some of the weather impacts from earlier this year impacted that revenue and that (hopefully) is why it decreased.”

Walking in as Owens was finishing up her statement was AuditorController Joe Harn to tell the board his belief the county will see a further reduction in sales tax revenue after reviewing sales tax returns made from online sales.

“We are going to see a different direction between statewide sales tax and our local sales tax that the state collects for us for transactions that take place in the county because more of these online sales taxes are going to go toward jurisdictions that have fulfillment centers and less of it will go to El Dorado County,” Harn explained. Regarding General Fund reserves and designations, the county is going to add more than $3.8 million to help offset CalPERS public pension expenses for a total allocation of more than $6.7 million.

The county’s actuarial reports for CalPERS projects an increase of more than $11 million in General Fund costs over the next five years; added money this year aims to meet the board’s two-year financial goal per county policy.

“We are concerned because CalPERS’ initial investment returns for this year are lower than what their assumptions were,” Owens told the board. “That means that our unfunded accrued liability will increase in the next actuarial and that will (increase costs.)”

Owens said the county needs to be cautious when designating money in the case discretionary revenues slow down, which will bring hardship to add an additional $1.8 million for a third year.

“We are going to continue to work with our actuarial consultant to see what that actual cost is and we will hopefully be able to include that in our recommended budget for next year when we meet the policy again, but for now it is a higher amount than we have seen in this designation for a while, but we feel this is the safest way to go,” Owens added.

The county also had trouble finding discretionary resources to hold its policy of keeping $5 million aside for disaster expenses. The board was left to approve just more than $1.8 million for the designation, but Owens reassured supervisors the general reserve and contingency has been set aside, which will have a balance of $12 million for the 202324 fiscal year.

Schmid added that while the county waits for a $4 million road infrastructure reimbursement, the county will have to front the bill.

“When there are these disasters that affect the county and its infrastructure, the county is the one that fronts the bill in part until we wait for reimbursement, which sometimes doesn’t occur,” she told the board. “That is a General Fund hit to making those road repairs.”

The board unanimously approved all the adopted budget provisions, which can be viewed on the county’s legistar’s website for the board’s Sept. 19 meeting at eldorado.legistar.com.

n SPEED BUMP by Dave

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You thought through your entire strategy before you started the endeavor. Now it’s not going to plan, but you’re still better for having one. Stay aware of what’s working and what needs to drop to keep things moving.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Thinking of the future gives you pleasure. The difference between an escape fantasy and a powerful visioning session is the intent to realize the dream and the step you take afterward.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). In the views of the day, including strangers who pass and the usual daily bustle, there’s a sense of ethereality and impermanence, a signal to you that something key is about to change. One meeting and you’re in a new scene.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The solution to your dilemma is still inside you. Paradoxically, it will take another person to get it out. They might inspire you, or they might have such wrong ideas that it triggers your best ideas to leap out and save you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There’s an art to arranging your day. You have the overall structure of a schedule and the balance of interests and fortifications to keep you moving along. But it’s the emotional element that colors everything. Consider what could make that brighter.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ve spent plenty of time thinking about how you would like a situation to go for the others involved and haven’t considered at all what (SET ITAL) you (END ITAL) want out of it. Make sure you want something, or you won’t have the gumption to see it through.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You like something and you want to enjoy it constantly, even if that would be terrible for you. This enthusiastic wanting is a gift. So many people don’t know what they want. Accepting this makes finding moderation a little easier.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your phone can check your spelling or figure a tip but offers no help with the skills you want to hone today. The only way to do it is to jump in, be bad at it, and keep going until you’re not.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Read a book or see a movie more than once and you notice different things each time around. You’ll revel in the nuances of works that are worthy of a second or third look. Second and third dates will follow the same principle.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Commitments are scary. You don’t know the “you” you’ll be a year from now or even next month. You don’t want to get into anything that’s hard to get out of. Usually, the best commitments are the ones that don’t pressure you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re a practitioner of equitable togetherness, practical support and tender care. But no matter what kind of relationship you’re working with, be it friendly, collegiate, romantic or other, you’ll add your own wild spark to keep things fun.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Before you can move to the next phase of your personal life, there are things to tie up. What can you resolve? Some relationships are like balloons that will not settle into their shape until you knot the end.

mtdemocrat.com Mountain Democrat Friday, October 6, 2023 A7
n TODAy HOROSCOPE by Holiday Mathis Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 SUDOkU Solutions to puzzles in Classified section of newspaper. Order Online, Dine In, Patio
WEST COAST SOURDOUGH PLACERVILLE (530) 748-3320 3951 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville In the Safeway Plaza • Sandwiches • Salads • Soups/Mac & Cheese • Kid’s Meals • Cater Your Next Meeting! Hours: Mon–Sat 10-8 | Sun 10-7
https://order.toasttab.com/online/west-coast-sourdough-placerville
Budget Continued from A1

(Proceeds from the bar support the American Legion Hall) purchase tickets at the door!

bone marrow transplant in 2020 following chemotherapy and 18 blood transfusions. During the transplant, he received additional blood transfusions and 21 platelet transfusions, according to information shared by Make-A-Wish Northeastern and Central California and Northern Nevada.

Magnum’s big day as a firefighter was the result of a community effort coordinated with the Make-A-Wish nonprofit — his wish granting announcement on Sept. 9 was a cause for celebration, being the 10,000th wish to be granted by the local organization since its founding in 1983.

Arriving at Fire Station 28 in Shingle Springs Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. with his family at the start of his wish day, Magnum stepped out of the car sporting the personalized fire helmet he had been gifted by Fire Chief Tim Cordero. He was met with waved signs, balloons and cheers from community members, Make-A-Wish staff, friends, family and firefighters. The kickoff ceremony made Magnum’s day as a firefighter official, with Cordero swearing him in and fitting him with his own firefighter turnout gear and a badge. As a gift from the firefighters to their newest compatriot, Magnum was also given a customized kid-sized EDCFPD fire truck, including Magnum’s name personalized on the sides in gold, and a metal water bottle — to help keep hydrated while fighting fires, Preston explained.

“It’s absolutely phenomenal to be a part of this, to see the community out here with the whole Make-AWish community,” Cordero said. “It’s a special moment to be part of this and hopefully we made a real positive impact on Magnum. Who knows, maybe someday he’ll go on to be a professional firefighter.”

The community support and outpour of encouragement for Magnum and his family was clear at every stop — driving from the fire station to Placerville’s Bell Tower, Magnum and his family passed by a group of youngsters from the Happy Kids Preschool and Child Care Center in Shingle Springs waiting by the road to cheer him on. Tashina Minnick, Magnum’s mom, was thrilled with how the day went for her son.

“It’s amazing; it’s been such a great celebration to end everything that he’s been going through,” Tashina said. “He loves dinosaurs but his favorite thing is firefighters, fire engines and that stuff. These firefighters have been a help, have even helped transport him to UC Davis once. I just want to express such a deep gratitude to everyone involved in this, for all the support and the love.”

The Bell Tower on Placerville’s Main Street was Magnum’s second stop, where he was met by Mayor Michael Saragosa and Vice Mayor Jackie Neau. Saragosa named Magnum honorary mayor for the day and in an homage to the tower’s historical purpose in aiding firefighting efforts, Magnum rang the bell. Magnum then had a chance to take a look at the many fire trucks that had stopped nearby — his mother shared, at one point, Magnum had said he wanted to grow up to be a fire engine.

Magnum’s last stop before his fireman’s meal was at the training center, where he bravely battled the simulated blaze with the help of other EDCFPD firefighters and ground crews from Cal Fire. After clearing the structure and helping break down the hoses, Magnum met many of the people who had come out to support him on his big day, handing out commemorative stickers provided by Make-A-Wish.

When asked how he enjoyed the day, Magnum was of few words. “It was good,” he responded. Though it was a day meant to make his wish come true, Magnum was far from the only person who enjoyed it.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Preston remarked. “For me this is a career height thing. I’ve been 23 years in the fire service, and I’ve got one or two left, and this is probably the first and only time I’ll be able to be involved in this type of event. And some of the other younger guys here, this is the first time they have ever been involved in something like this.”

Magnum’s granted wish caps off years of medical treatments and doctor’s visits, with good news on the horizon. Following an MRI done on Sept. 12, it was determined he would no longer have to go in for monthly phlebotomy tests.

A8 Friday, October 6, 2023 Mountain Democrat mtdemocrat.com All proceeds fund the care packages sent to the soldiers in the war zones who are from El Dorado County or have family members in El Dorado County. The care packages are sent three times a year. We also provide scholarships for returning military service members with the same criteria and we now offer VA & Active Military Home Buyer Scholarships. October 12th, 2023 4:00 – 8:00pm The American Legion Hall Located Just off Motherlode Drive 4561 Greenstone Road, Placerville
www.honorourtroops.us 15th Annual Honor Our Troops Fundraiser SPAGHETTI FEED
Full
*Sponsored by the El Dorado County Association of Realtors* *and the Honor Our Troops Committee*
Adults - $15.00 Children - $7.00
Bar
“Drive-Thru”
Dinners
Or stay for the Live Entertainment & Raffle Drawings WE’RE BACK! STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS TICKETS AVAILABLE | OCTOBER 18, 2023 530.621.5885 CAMERON PARK COUNTRY CLUB PRESENTING BUSINESS Awards 2023 & SPONSOR Magnum Continued from A1
Spaghetti
Available
Mountain Democrat photos by Odin Rasco
Magnum gets a high-five from fellow crew member firefighter/EMT Jonas Alger after clearing the simulated fire at a training facility in Placerville.
Placerville Mayor Michael Saragosa, left photo, welcomed Magnum to Placerville, naming him honorary mayor for the day and giving him the chance to ring the landmark Bell Tower’s bell. El Dorado County Fire Protection District Chief Tim Cordero, right photo, makes Magnum’s wish official, swearing him in as a firefighter at Fire Station 28.

Park EIR ready for review

Eric Jaramishian

Staff writer

Public review for the

draft environmental impact report on the Diamond Springs Community Park opened Sept. 19 and is ready for comments from county residents.

The 45-day review period will end Nov.

2 for the 40-acre park proposed for the Diamond Springs/El Dorado area.

All written comments on the draft EIR must be submitted to El Dorado County Parks Manager

Vickie Sanders by postal mail to:

County of El Dorado

Chief Administrative Office Parks Division 330 Fair Lane, Bldg. A Placerville, CA 95667

Or by email to:

Vickie.Sanders@edcgov.

us with “Diamond Springs Community Park project DEIR” included in the subject line, along with the name and physical address of the

commenter in the body of the email.

The EIR can be viewed online at edcgov.us/ Government/Parks. The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors accepted a property donation of 29.8 acres from the healthcare nonprofit Marshall Foundation for Community Health in January 2022 that would be used to build the community park. The rest of the land is owned by the Mother Lode Union School District,

which is working with the county to construct the park. The land is adjacent to Charles F. Brown Elementary and Union Mine High School, off Oak Dell Road. The complex would include a variety of amenities such as various ball and soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts, walking trails and picnic areas. The project would also include an indoor gym, a sand volleyball court, restrooms and parking.

Mix all ingredients together until combined. Roll out to cracker thin.

Don’t hem & haw; don’t see-saw, just pop on down to the shelter and adopt this cute M black DSH today. 13 wks.

SAFFRON

He is clad in impressive flame point fur. Adopt & this cute DSH will elevate your mood when petted daily. 6 mo.

mtdemocrat.com Mountain Democrat Friday, October 6, 2023 A9 Adopt
Pet TOBY (A093277) Yes, this dog is good. He likes any kind of music but has no guitar playing skills. Black Labrador mix 10 yr. COMING ATTRACTIONS Here are just 2 of the kittens coming up for adoption soon. Check www.petharbor.com for new additions. Help orphaned pets find homes and promote your business at the same time. C all Elizabeth Hansen Today For Further Information (530) 344-5028. El Dorado County Animal Shelter 6435 Capitol Avenue Diamond Springs 530-621-5795 www.edcgov.us/ animalservices To adopt one of these pets or another orphaned pet call A Dog Doo Cleanup Service Weekly/Monthly Rates • Onetime jobs welcome. Call for a FREE estimate! Everyone enjoys a clean yard. I’ll “Doo” the Dirty Work! (530) 642-8475 B.L. #032382 If You Have A Pet-Related Business And Are Looking For A New Way To Promote Your Business, Join Our Adopt-A-Pet Sponsor Page! ADVERTISE HERE ON THIS PAGE!! 4300 Golden Center Drive, #G • Placerville • (530) 622-9068 Robert E. Anderson, DDS FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY SNORING & SLEEP APNEA SPECIALIST New Patients Welcome! We Love Our Pets! Dr. Bob & Cody With 4 paws instead of 4 leaves this F grey & white DSH might just bring you luck. Adopt today. 3 yr. CLOVER (A155406) THORA (A155347) This sweet goddess is looking to brighten your mood each and every day. F tortoiseshell DSH 3 yr. 530-622-6909 • www.hangtownkc.org P.O. Box 2176 ♦ Placerville, 95667 Hangtown Kennel Club of Placerville, CA Inc. ◆ General Meetings 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm His favorite word may be “squirrel” or perhaps “walk”. Come for a meet ‘n’ greet & see for your self. Blk & tan Hound 26mo. HUNTER (A154112) ROCCO (A155286) No godfather associations, just a chill tan male GSD mix looking for a nice home. 2 years. You can enrich your life with the adoption of this F GSD. The love a good dog is priceless. tan 17 mo. JACKIE
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Breakfast,
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Serving You Since 2002 Peanut Time Dog Crackers 2 C flour • 1/2 C peanut butter • 2 large eggs • 1/4 C water Pet Friendly Patio • Café & Bakery Coffeehouse & Desserts • Specialty Coffees Wedding Cakes & Catering (530) 642-1308 7310 State Hwy 49, Lotus www.sierrarizing.com
Bake
minutes until crisp.
Courtesy graphic A rendering shows what the 40-acre community park proposed in Diamond Springs might look like.
A10 Friday, October 6, 2023 Mountain Democrat mtdemocrat.com Explore life-enriching programs and exceptional standards of care for your loved one at Eskaton Village Placerville. 530-291-1083 • eskaton.org/evp Schedule your personalized tour today! A Senior Living Experience Tailored to Your Needs Assisted Living • Independent Living with Services • Memory Care License #097005046 Equal Housing Opportunity 3380 Blairs Lane, Placerville, CA 95667

In the KNOW

Stellar students

Congratulations to the following El Dorado Hills residents who were named to the Biola University

Dean’s List: Charles Emde, Sarah Freed, Ethan Haase, Garrett Portela and Siena Stacy

Oct. 6

Sherwood Demonstration

Garden is open every Friday and Saturday for open garden days, 9 a.m. to noon. Take a leisurely stroll through all 16 themed gardens. Docents are on site to assist with any gardening questions. Check the website before visiting at ucanr.edu/sites/ EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden.

Black Cat Moon will perform at 5 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/livemusic.

Queen of the Night!

Remembering Whitney takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. A “tribute to the voice of Whitney Houston,” the 90-minute show stars Trina Johnson Finn. For more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

Roots Man Project will perform at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

Audioboxx will perform 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Oct. 6 & 7 at Red Hawk Casino’s Stage Bar. For more information visit redhawkcasino.com.

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera presents “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” film concert Oct. 6 & 7 at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center in Sacramento. For tickets and more information visit sacphilopera.org/ production/harry-potter.

Tangled Roots will perform bluesy Caribbean swing at Andis Wines in Plymouth. For more information call (209) 245-6177 or email info@andiswines.com.

The Hot Club of San Francisco will perform at The Sofia in Sacramento.

For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

Oct. 7

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County hosts Landscape Grasses, 9 a.m. to noon at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden in Placerville. A $2 parking fee is enforced.

Join Master Gardener Sue McDavid to learn about ornamental grasses and

Fine art & Literature Collide at the El Dorado Hills Library

Friends of the El Dorado Hills Library

News release

The first El Dorado Hills Fine Art Festival — a playful joining of fine art and the community library — debuts 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct 14, at the El Dorado Hills Library. Artists from the El Dorado Hills Arts Association will present their creations in various media for viewing and sale in the community room and in front of the library.

Anyone who loves the EDHAA Spring Studio Tour or wants the opportunity to meet many accomplished artists should not miss the El Dorado Hills Fine Arts Festival. Unique pieces of art will be available for immediate sale or custom commission.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Friends of the Library. The first Fine Art Festival presents endless possibilities. Diverse artists selling original art, children creating art in their special section, a reception for the library’s lifetime members, art challenge and EDHAA raffle of library-themed art pieces, and food trucks nourishing attendees — what a great family outing for the EDH community,” said Judy Arrigotti, EDHAA president.

The event is jointly sponsored by The Friends of the Library, El Dorado Hills Arts Association and the El Dorado Hills Library.

the upcoming El

“The Friends of the Library are excited to partner with the El Dorado Hills Arts Association in this special joining of local artists with our community library,” said Teresa Correia, president of the EDH Friends of the Library. “We want to encourage creativity and appreciation of

the arts. This event dovetails with our 3D Print Lab and other learning programs.”

To complement the festival, children can create their own masterpiece at a booth organized by EDHAA members

extravaganza celebrates Folsom Lake symphony’s 20 years

Time flies. You blink and the kids are grown and a new generation takes the lead.

Some of us remember the debut of the Folsom Lake Symphony Orchestra back in 2003. Finding venues large enough for an orchestra and audience in a muchsmaller Folsom was challenging. Would there be talented musicians this far away from San Francisco? How might this venture be funded? Would people come?

There were a lot of questions. With the help of a great many talented people and the leadership of Bruce Woodbury, founding president, and Maestro Michael Neumann, founding conductor, this regional symphony took flight. I remember that first year and how impressed I was by the musical selections — and the talent! Roberta Long, then my editor at Folsom Life newspaper, told me we must do everything we

Mountain Democrat n mtdemocrat.com Friday, October 6, 2023 Section B News,
Mountain Democrat photo by Noel Stack El Dorado Hills Arts Association President Judy Arrigotti celebrates art and literacy in her works promoting Dorado Hills Fine Arts Festival.
n See
festival, page B9
Courtesy photo
n See laird page B9 n See Know, page B3 (530) 622-7420 | 2875 Ray Lawyer Drive, Placerville OPEN: Tuesday–Saturday 11-8 | Sundays 10-7 Great Food • 30 Taps • 5 Big Screens • Family Vibe NFL PACKAGE Sunday Brunch Fresh Food & Local Eats 589 Main Street, Placerville (530) 303-3871 www.mainstreetmelters.com Outside Deck Open Take Out ~ Order Online ~ Call In 11am – 4pm Daily Placerville’s Favorite Sandwich Shop & Tap House
South Korean violinist Chee-Yun joins the Folsom Lake Symphony to perform Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the symphony on a 1669 violin.

prospecting sculpture made from lake litter unveiled at tahoe Blue event center

STATELINE, Nev.

— A new sculpture constructed of trash pulled from Lake Tahoe during Clean Up the Lake’s 72-mile clean-up project was unveiled in front of the Tahoe Blue Event Center Sept. 27.

The sculpture, titled “Surfaced,” was created with more than 450 pounds of items collected by Clean Up the Lake Founder and CEO Colin West and his team of staff and volunteers when they scuba dived Lake Tahoe’s shoreline.

Commissioned by the Tahoe Fund with support from Tahoe Blue Vodka, the sculpture was created to educate visitors about what was found in Tahoe’s blue waters and encourage environmental stewardship. It was unveiled at its permanent home at the new Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline, Nev., on the south shore of Lake Tahoe.

“This sculpture is the result of the unprecedented effort by Clean Up the Lake to remove 25,000 pounds of litter from Lake Tahoe,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “From its prominent new home at the Tahoe Blue Events Center, ‘Surfaced’ will serve as an important and beautiful reminder that it’s up to all of us to take care of Tahoe.”

Using litter found underneath Tahoe’s surface, including lures and bobbers, sunglasses, paddles, traffic cones, chains, anchors and rubber edging often found on docks and buoys, internationally recognized artists Joel Dean Stockdill and Yustina Salnikova, represented by public art agency Building 180, created an original sculpture depicting a bald eagle, Lahonton cutthroat trout and Ponderosa pine tree, as voted on by the public.

Berry joked during the unveiling event that when she brought the

idea of the sculpture’s location to Carol Chaplin, president/ CEO at Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority, Chaplin told Berry something along the lines of, “We’re building this incredibly beautiful, Amy. I don’t know if we want your pile of garbage.”

After Berry showed Chaplin the concept, Chaplin was more than happy to provide the location and described the sculpture as “beautiful” during the unveiling.

The artists, known for creating art from recycled and reclaimed materials, spent the last year working on the design and parsing through litter that divers from Clean Up The Lake had stored in a 20-foot container. Their goal was to find elements that would capture the distinct features of the animals depicted in a

way that was as close to their actual appearance as possible.

Stockdill and Salnikova collected precisely enough white paddles to form the tail feathers of the eagle. They used a mosaic technique to turn brightly colored bits of plastic — from sunglasses, lures and bobbers — into the thousands of tiny, lifesize scales on the trout. The fins? Crafted from a traffic cone. And they made the bark of the Ponderosa pine tree stump out of hundreds of feet of chain. The stump, which measures 3 feet in diameter and is 3 feet tall, makes up much of the weight of the 700-pound sculpture.

Stockdill and Salnikova said when picking the items to use for the sculpture, they had to pick pieces that could withstand the elements but also told a

story. “All materials have a story. It’s alive; it has had many hands to make that thing … it’s come thousands of miles to get to you and for you to use it once. We want people to really think about that,” Salnikova explained.

The artists live nearly trash-free in their personal lives and want people to think more consciously about how items can be reused again and again, although they shared they realize in today’s world, being trashfree is a privilege not afforded to everyone.

The design of the sculpture was chosen by the public from three designs, including a Sierra Nevada red fox or a solitary Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.

West said his original hope was that the fox would win but during

New giving circle supports grads

News release

The El Dorado Community Foundation has launched a Scholarship Giving Circle. Anyone can contribute and all funds collected will go toward scholarships at El Dorado High School, Ponderosa High School, Oak Ridge High School, South Tahoe High School and Union Mine High School. Donors can join the giving circle for $40 or more and choose which high school scholarship will receive their funds; 100% of donations go toward the

scholarships.

Membership will allow donors to vote on how the funds are allocated for the scholarships (minimum scholarship amount will be $1,000).

Visit eldoradocf.org/edcf-scholarship-giving-circle and donate any time until Feb. 1, 2024.

Those interested in learning more are invited to join a Zoom presentation at noon Tuesday, Oct. 10.

For more information email EDCF Community Impact Officer Kathy Haven at kathy@eldoradocf. org.

B2 Friday, October 6, 2023 Mountain Democrat mtdemocrat.com
Courtesy photo
Grab your board and catch a wave to the Mountain Democrat website Surfing the web? mtdemocrat.com n See sculpture, page B6 CHURCH OF CHRIST Rescue 4200 Green Valley Road, Rescue Sunday Bible classes, 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning worship, 10:30 a.m. Sunday evening worship, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Bible study, 7 p.m LIGHTHOUSE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 5441 Pony Express Church Pollock Pines (Across from Valero, Exit 57) Pastor Aaron Bryan Sunday Service 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Evening Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Monthly Breakfast October 7th, 10:00 a.m. Church Fall Carnival October 27th, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 644-7036 or 621-4276 LIGHT OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN CHURCH, LCMS 3100 Rodeo Rd., Cameron Park Pastor Alan Sommer, Senior Pastor Pastor Kyle Weeks, Associate Pastor Sunday Worship 8:00 am and 10:45am Sunday School and Bible Study 9:30am 8am Service is live streamed. www.loth.org 530-677-9536 SOLID ROCK FAITH CENTER DIAMOND SPRINGS Pastor Don B. Pritchard 6205 Enterprise Dr., Diamond Springs Church 642-2038 Sunday Services 10:00 a.m. “Ministering to every need and every life the power of Christ’’ MOUNTAINSIDE CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING Town Hall 549 Main Street, Placerville Sunday Services 10:30 a.m. Visitors Always Welcome Our Mission “To offer the teachings and wisdom that supports an expanding Spiritual awarness of love and the Divine Within.” THE EL DORADO COMMUNITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 4701 Church St. El Dorado 530-622-8868 message phone Pastor George Turnboo Sunday Service 11:00 AM W orship D irectory For Information Call Elizabeth Hansen at 530-344-5028 Licensed Insured 916-370-0651 Maggie’s House Cleaning Available for weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, & one time cleaning. Reliable, honest, and has over 20 years of experience. margaritalherrera@icloud.com 681 Main Street, Unit L3, Placerville (in the Marshall Lab building) • M–F 7am–4pm • Sat 9am–4pm sweetpairingsbakery.com • 530-903-3158 • Bread • Cupcakes • Pastries • Cookies • Cakes • Pies Pre-orders Welcome! Fresh Baked Goods Daily Custom Wedding & Birthday Cakes! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Hours: M-F 8:30-5pm Sat 9-1pm 4600 Missouri Flat Rd. Placerville • (530) 622-2640 ORCHARD & VINEYARD SUPPLIES WATER TANKS 300-5,000 GALLON SIZES AVAILABLE! Weed Prevention is Fire Prevention MAINTAINS STRENGTH FOR YEARS! SUPER CONCENTRATE MAKES OVER 200 GALLONS LIVESTOCK & DEER FENCING! NOW IN STOCK! $399 per ton STOVE PELLETS (530) 295-8356 694 Pleasant Valley Rd., Diamond Springs Lunch & Dinner: Sunday - Thursday, 11am - 8:30pm Friday & Saturday, 11am - 9pm OPEN FOR DINE-IN! Fabulous Appetizers! Domestic & Imported Beer • House Wine Eat Here or Order “To Go” COCINA MEXICANO AUTHENTICO! COLINA DE ORO 15% OFF Entire Bill! (With This Ad - Expires 10.31.23. Excludes Daily Specials) TRUCKS • CARS • BoATS • RVS • We handle all DMV & Smog • Live Operators Take Your Call • Tax Deduction • Running or Not *restrictions apply (800) 394-5419 El DoraDo County WEstErn slopE providing a positive place where our kids can recognize and reach their great potential.
Artists Yustina Salnikova, left and Joel Dean Stockdill stand with their sculpture made out of garbage pulled from Lake Tahoe.

buttered and salty

‘The Exorcist: Believer’

HH R, 1 hour, 51 minutes

Horror Opens today

In the year of our lord 1975 a controversial and edgy motion picture descended onto theaters and scared the bejesus out of audiences. Directed by the late William Freidkin, who passed away two months ago just shy of the film’s 50th anniversary this year, and written for the screen by William Peter Blatty (who also penned the novel it was based on), the original “The Exorcist” is carefully constructed, brilliantly written and extremely effective in the relationships it lays out on the screen as it scares the living pants off you.

“The Exorcist: Believer” is a pale imitation of the original and benefits from none of these attributes.

The biggest problem with the film is it’s stuffed with too many characters we care little about. The most egregious example of this is the fact that there are two girls now being possessed as opposed to just one like in the original film. I guess double the possession, double the fun?

The first girl, Angela, played by Lidya Jewett, is introduced to us early in the film when her mother is killed in an earthquake in Haiti (more on that in a minute) when she is at full term with the baby and her husband Victor, played by Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”), has to raise the child.

The first section of the film spends most of its time with Angela and Victor, which is fine since the film moves well and has a few good moments of dread when focused on the two of them. The chemistry between the father/daughter pair is tangible and is the highlight early in the movie.

Where the film starts to fall apart is the introduction of several supporting characters, starting with the second possessed girl, Katherine, played by newcomer Olivia O’Neill, and her family. The film seems to follow the premise that this will be the story of two possessed girls and the negative effects it has on the families and their different theological means to deal with such trauma. However, other than a few lines of dialog and arguments between the two fathers, the film never quite goes there. Instead we cut back and forth between the separate families for a time, giving us just enough to understand that Katherine and her parents are supposedly main characters who present their faith differently than Victor and his daughter would but the second family soon becomes an afterthought.

The idea that two separate families would react differently to the same threat is an intriguing idea, but the execution was lackluster until it became laughable when a “team” of religious leaders band together to fight out the demons in their own unique way. I like the spotlight on different religious beliefs waging spiritual warfare by very different means but, like the main characters themselves, these men and women of God never have time to develop their characters, history or expertise.

The character that gets the worst of this, other than the second possessed girl’s family, is the Catholic Father Maddox, played by E.J. Bonilla. We are introduced to the character halfway through the film briefly, see him again when he asks the diocese to allow him to do the exorcism and one final time toward the end of the film. While the movie is under no obligation to make the Catholic priest the primary protagonist against the demon (we’ve already seen that in the other films), this character carries zero weight. When Max Von Sydow walked into the house as Father Merrin to face the demon in 1973 his character had gravitas. He meant business and the situation was grave. I don’t get that from several of these characters.

One character we are apparently supposed to get that from is the return of Chris MacNeil, played again by Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn for the first time since the original film. Since the events of the first movie MacNeil has apparently left acting and become a so-called “expert” on demon possession to the point where she quickly

Know Continued from B1 how to incorporate them into a landscape.

Miraflores Winery, 2120 Four Springs Trail in the Pleasant Valley area, hosts Brunch and Bubbles with chef Tara Martinez Oct. 7 & 8. Enjoy a meal featuring Moroccan Spice and exotic mimosas. Reservation times are 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m. Call (530) 6478505 or email info@mirafloreswinery.com to make a reservation.

Main Street Oktoberfest takes place in downtown Placerville, 3-7 p.m. Hosted by Kilt and Cork, the festival features beer, wine, German foods and dress, live music, Dachshund Dash and a kids zone. This is a free family event. For a complete schedule visit kiltandcork.com/calendar/main-street-oktoberfest.

Be Bold Brave Robot will perform 3-5 p.m. followed by Main Street Collective presenting Oktoberfloyd, 9 p.m. to midnight at The Green Room Social Club in downtown Placerville. For tickets and more information visit clubgreenroom.com.

All About Equine’s Boots and Bling takes place 4-10 p.m. at the Forni Building on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville. For tickets and more information visit allaboutequine.org.

The Tunes will perform at 4 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery.com/live-music.

faces off with the new demon. Why experiencing it herself with her daughter 50 years ago and writing about those experiences makes her qualified to exercise a demon out of another little girl, I have no idea.

In a film full of missed opportunities the most glaring is the underused Mrs. Burstyn, who must have only given the production two or three days. If you are going to bring back such an iconic character from what many consider the greatest horror film of all time, give her something to do.

There is a line of dialog where we learn that Burstyn’s Chris MacNeil and her daughter Reagan, played by then 13-year-old Linda Blair in the original, have been estranged for years due to her writing and talking about the possession experiences without Reagan’s permission. This is an interesting loose story thread that should have been tugged on a bit more. If Victor is a single father raising a young daughter that he is losing (albeit to a demon) and Chris MacNeil raised Reagan as a single mother, made it through the experiences of the original film but ended up losing her daughter anyway by the choices she made, you have an interesting bonding mechanism for these two characters. Unfortunately in the race to spend time

with the other uninteresting supporting characters and get to the actual exorcism, that idea never has time to develop. The relationship between Victor and Chris (for the little there is) is a metaphor for the entire motion picture.

What worked for the original film was that director Friedkin and writer Blatty spent a lot of the original films running time building up the Chris and Reagan characters, their mother/daughter bond and the means Macneil goes to to help her daughter in the end, so when the priests show up to assist we believe it. For their part, Father Merrin (Von Sydow) and Father Karras (Jason Miller) are given a good amount of screen time to develop as well. We learn of Karras’ sickly mother and his guilt for not being there when she died. We watch him struggle with his faith and discuss with other priests he is close to.

With Father Merrin we see him open the original film as an elderly priest and paleontologist on an archeological dig in Iraq. There he finds artifacts and images of the demon Pazuzu that will torment young Reagan for the remainder of the film. It is strange, moody and sets the tone for the rest of the picture. I mentioned earlier that this new film opens in Haiti and I can’t quite understand the reasoning for that other than the first film opened in a foreign country, so I guess this one needs to? Other than the real life earthquake the location offers little for mood or story that couldn’t be featured elsewhere.

“The Exorcist: Believer” is a barely passable “legacy sequel” that doesn’t share the mood or pathos the original film possessed (no pun intended). There are so many different types of stories you could tell in this universe, but for some reason we are in America again talking to Chris MacNeil about Reagan while the demon seems to know some of the specific lines of dialog the one in the original film spewed. If Universal Pictures is going to pay $400 million for the rights to this franchise they should nail the script first because by this effort their plans for a trilogy of films (studios need to stop doing this) are in jeopardy.

If you need to get your fix on “The Exorcist” my advice is celebrate the 50th anniversary and watch the original masterpiece and if you want a quality sequel watch the underrated (but darned good!) “The Exorcist III” (1990).

Joshua B. Porter is a writer/director/producer. He can be reached at @joshuabporter or joshuabporter@mtdemocrat.net.

mtdemocrat.com Mountain Democrat Friday, October 6, 2023 B3
Democrat correspondent
Mediterranean
a.m.
n See Know, page B4 TIRES ALIGNMENT BRAKES BATTERIES Schedule a Pre-Trip Safety Check at LesSchwab.com/safety Our Pre-Trip Safety Check includes a visual inspection of tires, alignment, shocks, brakes and battery. See store for details. PLACERVILLE 1415 BROADWAY • 530-642-0799 DRIVE SAFE!
Echo Summit will perform at Sierra Vista Winery in the Pleasant Valley area, 5:30-8 p.m. For more information call (530) 622-7221.
Vineyards in the Fair Play area hosts Harvest Day, 11
to 5 p.m. with live music, winery tours, barrel tastings and more. For reservations and more information visit medivineyards.com/Events.

Mountain Democrat mtdemocrat.com

Know Continued from B3

Skinner Vineyards in Rescue hosts craft vendors Oct. 7 & 8. For more information call (530) 620-2210.

Ed Wilson will perform 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Vine in Folsom. The Pops Chorale Orchestra joins with the Harris Center for the Arts to present Hollywood at Harris featuring favorite music from famous Hollywood movies. Shows will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. For more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 608-6888.

California State Archives hosts the annual Sacramento Archives Crawl, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing attendees an immersive exploration of Sacramento’s rich history. For more information visit sos.ca.gov/archives/public-events.

Amador City Business and Community Association host Dancin’ in the Street, 4-7 p.m. in Amador City with Matt the DJ. For more information visit VisitAmadorCity.com.

B Street Theatre at The Sofia in Sacramento presents “Papi, Me and Cesar Chavez,” Oct. 7-28. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

Oct. 8

Celebrate your pets and receive a blessing from Rev. Debra Sabino at 9:30 a.m. the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, 2979

› Local Recipes

› Gi Ideas

› Cra s

› Decoration Ideas

› Home Entertainment

› Family Fun Activities

Coloma St., Placerville. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition celebrated around the day of honoring St. Francis of Assisi who is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment. For more information email revdebra.oursaviour@ gmail.com or call (530) 622-2441.

Animal Outreach of the Mother Lode hosts a Fall Fundraiser & Sunday Brunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cameron Park Country Club. Enjoy delicious brunch, a mimosa, raffle and silent and live auctions. To purchase tickets visit AnimalOutreach.net/events, call (530) 387-4055 or email events@animaloutreach.net.

Ed Wilson will perform 1-4 p.m. at Jack Russell Farm Brewery in Camino.

The Georgetown Boys will perform at 3 p.m. at HWY 50 Brewery in Camino. For more information visit hwy50brewery. com/live-music.

The Sacramento Symphonic Winds hosts its first concert, The Music Makers, at 2:30 p.m. at the El Camino High School Center for the Arts in Sacramento. The Sacramento Symphonic Winds is a 60-piece adult symphonic wind ensemble conducted by Music/ Artistic Director Dr. Matthew Morse. This concert features “The Music Makers” by Alfred Reed, First Suite in Eb by Gustav Holst, “Chorale and Shaker Dance” by John Zdechlik and more. For more information visit sacwinds.org.

Great opportunity to thank your customers!

To advertise in this special edition of the Mountain Democrat, contact your sales representative or call 530-344-5048.

The Lost Wayne and Peter Wise will perform at The Sofia in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 4435300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

Now

Big Idea Theatre in Sacramento presents “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City” through Oct. 7. For tickets and more information call (916) 9603036 or visit bigideatheatre.org.

Sacramento Theatre Company presents “Peter and the Starcatcher” through Oct. 8. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-6722 or visit sactheatre.org.

City Theatre at Sacramento City College brings acclaimed playwright Sarah Ruhl’s “Eurydice,” a reimagined take on the classical myth of Eurydice and Orpheus, to the stage through Oct. 15. For tickets and more information visit CityTheatre.net.

Olde Coloma Theatre presents “Hilda’s Haunted Retirement Home” or “Remember the Golden Fool” through Oct. 29. For tickets and more information visit oldecolomatheatre.com. Sutter Street Theatre in Folsom presents “Evil Dead: The Musical” through Nov. 5. For tickets and more information call (916) 353-1001 or visit sutterstreettheatre.com.

Send Us Your Spe cial Holiday Recipes

The Mountain Democrat will be publishing our Thanksgiving Holiday Edition Wednesday, Nov. 22 and we want your holiday recipes!

We are now accepting submissions for unique, local holiday recipes that will be considered for inclusion in this special publication. If you would like to participate, please send all submissions to:

Krysten Kellum at kkellum@mtdemocrat.net or mail to:

Krysten Kellum c/o “Holiday Recipes” P. O. Box 1088 Placerville, CA 95667

6,
B4 Friday, October
2023
Thanksgiving
Edition Wednesday, November 22
year’s edition will feature:
Don’t Miss Our
Holiday
is

Blues band’s music asks the audience to ‘seize the moment’

News release

SUTTER CREEK — The greatest front-porch blues band in the world comes to Sutter Creek Theatre Oct. 7.

The new album from Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band was written by candlelight and then recorded using the best technology available in the 1950s. But listeners won’t find another album as relevant, electrifying and timely as “Dance Songs for Hard Times.”

Hear the music live when the group hits the stage.

Don’t lose your head over this Sutter Street show

News release

FOLSOM — A headless horseman rides onto the Sutter Street Theatre stage this month with a family production of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” — a fun and spooky adaptation of the classic story by Washington Irving. The storybook tale revolves around four main characters — the bumbling, awkward school teacher Ichabod Crane, the coquettish Katrina Van Tassel, Ichabod’s brutish rival Brom

Bones and, saving the best for last, the ride of the Headless Horseman. Presented with all the thrills, chills and laughs that keep audiences on the edge of their seats, this production is directed by Allen Schmeltz and exciting family entertainment for Halloween.

Performances are scheduled at 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 7-29 at Sutter Street Theatre, 717 Sutter St. in Folsom. Make reservations at SutterStreetTheatre. com or call (916) 353-1001.

Blues band to rock The Sofia

News release

SACRAMENTO — Awardwinning San Francisco Bay-area

blues band Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, twotime winners of the prestigious Blues Music Award for Band of the Year, will perform live at The Sofia in Sacramento on Saturday, Oct. 7.

The group’s latest Alligator Records release is 2019’s “Contemporary.” The limitless combined talents of blues harmonica virtuoso and sly, soulful singer Estrin, guitar mastermind Kid Andersen, keyboard wizard Lorenzo Farrell and endlessly creative drummer Derrick “D’Mar” Martin take Estrin’s inventive, original songs to new and unexpected places. With these musically fearless players kicking everything up a notch, Contemporary explores some different sounds, instrumentation and grooves from their previous releases, as they continue to reinvent traditional blues styles.

On stage, the band’s ability to deliver an unpredictable,

no-holds-barred show is unmatched. Forbes.com called them “America’s Greatest Showmen,” and wrote, “Estrin is a world class musician … the most colorful and entertaining showman around.”

“Rick Estrin sings and writes songs like the brightest wiseguy in all of bluesland and blows harmonica as if he learned at the knee of Little Walter.” — DownBeat

“People don’t go out to see people who look

like themselves,” Estrin said. “They want to see something special. I was schooled in this business to be a showman and that’s what you get when you come to see us perform. We know how to put on a show. I feel sorry for anyone who has to follow us.”

The show begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at The Sofia, 2700 Capitol Ave. in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

The song “Too Cool to Dance” might be interpreted as the album’s centerpiece for its message of not taking things for granted. The seize-themoment anthem offers the chorus, “We may not get another chance. Oh, please don’t tell me you’re too cool to dance.”

Peyton, the cover subject of Vintage Guitar magazine’s January 2020 issue, showcases his

Courtesy photo

Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band went old school to record its new album. “The country blues is a gift of 20th century American music, and it’s awesome to see a band tap into its

remarkable picking techniques on “Too Cool to Dance.” It’s rare to hear a fingerstyle player attack Chuck Berry-inspired licks with index, middle and ring fingers while devoting his or her thumb to a bass line.

Yet multi-tasking

Peyton has made an art of giving the illusion he’s being accompanied by a bass player, despite the Big Damn Band’s roster featuring no one

beyond himself, Breezy on washboard and Max Senteney on drums. “Too Cool to Dance” heats up thanks to Peyton’s 1954 Supro Dual Tone electric guitar. Once known exclusively for playing acoustic guitar in the tradition of Mississippi icons Charley Patton and Bukka White, Peyton’s country blues seemingly have

mtdemocrat.com Mountain Democrat Friday, October 6, 2023 B5
Photo by Allen Schmeltz Fun and chills await the audience when “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” starring Jerold McFatter, Cattaryan Goodin and Anthony DePage, left to right, comes to Folsom. legacy with so much gusto and original vision.” — Music City Roots n See band, page B6 Photo by Mark Herzig Rick Estrin & The Nightcats come to The Sofia with music guaranteed to please the audience.
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Roo ng at its Finest

and sta from the EDH Library. There will be food truck fare o ering pizza, tacos, soft drinks and delectable desserts.

“We have always dreamed about bringing fine art to the library since it has the ability to inspire and connect people of all ages. As art is essential to the healthy development of children, we are excited to provide an area at the festival for youth to explore di erent artistic mediums that help to promote creativity and personal expression,” shared EDH Library Branch Manager Jan Robbins. “We look

can to support this wonderful arts organization. And, as a regional arts community, we have.

As the years progressed, performances were held at the new performing arts center on the campus of Folsom High School. Then, at the still larger facility at Rolling Hills Christian Church in El Dorado Hills. At the groundbreaking for what would become the Harris Center on the campus of Folsom Lake College, negotiations were already under way to make the Folsom Lake Symphony one of the stars in the crown of the Three Stages.

Twenty years from its founding, the FLS is still going strong. Anson Wong leads the board now and Maestro Peter Ja e conducts. For the last two decades our community has experienced beautiful music, musical prodigies, singing and dancing talent and fellowship.

On Saturday, Oct. 14, the season opens with an Emerald Extravaganza concert at 7:30 p.m. — emerald being the gemstone for 20-year anniversaries — at the Harris Center.

West Coast jazz

A 2020 arrangement by composer Chris Brubeck

forward to having our community join us at this joy-filled event at the library.”

The Friends of the Library will host an invitation-only Lobby Party in the morning for generous Lifetime members who have donated $250 or more to support the library. Featured artists from EDHAA will share insights about their work and creative process. Refreshments will be served and one lucky lifetime member will win a piece of fine art from one of the exhibiting artists.

kicks o the evening. The “Time Out Suite” was composed by Brubeck’s father, Dave, and Paul Desmond. Chris put together this arrangement to commemorate his father’s 100th birthday. The work made its international debut with the Stockton Symphony, under the baton of Maestro Ja e.

Prodigy soloist

FLS concerts bring in talented soloists from around the world. Korean violinist Chee-Yun will perform Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the symphony on a 1669 violin made by Francesco Ruggieri. The provenance of the instrument includes a rumor that this violin spent 200 years in the crypt of one of its former owners.

A prodigy, Chee-Yun’s first public performance at age 8 took place in her native Seoul after she won the grand prize of the Korean Times Competition. At 13 she came to the United States and was invited to perform Vieuxtemps’ Concerto No. 5 in a Young People’s Concert with the New York Philharmonic. Her star has risen since. In addition to her active performance and recording schedule, Chee-Yun is a dedicated and enthusiastic educator. She gives

It’s not too late to become a lifetime member and receive an invitation to this special event. Go to friendsoftheedhlibrary.org/member and become a library supporter.

The Friends of the Library provides significant financial support to the El Dorado Hills Library. Half of the books for all ages are funded by the Friends including e-books and audio books, plus major library improvements such as the Early Literacy Play Center, 3D Print Lab supplies and upgrades and the Summer Book Challenge.

master classes around the world and has held several teaching posts at notable music schools and universities.

Music with color

Concluding the evening is a performance of “Feste Romane (Roman Festivals)” by Ottorino Respighi. This 1928 favorite completed Respighi’s Roman trilogy (“The Fountains of Rome” and “The Pines of Rome”). Close your eyes and let the music illustrate the majesty (and doom) at the Colosseum under Nero, then the weariness and joy of pilgrims traveling to St. Peter’s Basilica, then the numerous Italian festas of October and a final celebration of the Epiphany at the Piazza Navona. It is a foundational piece for cinematic music of the 20th century.

Congratulations, Folsom Lake Symphony, on 20 years. May you prosper for at least 20 times 20 years!

For tickets and additional information visit folsomlakesymphony.com.

Send your event for consideration in Susan’s column to slaird@handywriting.com.

mtdemocrat.com Mountain Democrat Friday, October 6, 2023 B9
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UPCOMING EVENTS

Queen Of The Night! Remembering Whitney

OCTOBER 6, 2023

Queen of the Night! Remembering Whitney, starring Trina Johnson Finn is a 90-minute live entertainment show that brings the top selling hits of the late Whitney Houston to the stage and transports the essence and persona of Whitney for a night of exhilarating and gripping performances. Showcasing fan-favorite songs from Whitney Houston’s past albums, along with snappy dialogue providing personal insight behind each song, some of Las Vegas’ hottest musicians, two incredible background vocalists, and four dynamic dancers, this amazing production will be a wonderful treat for all the Whitney Fans around the world!

On Your Feet!

NOVEMBER 2-5, 2023

THEIR MUSIC, THEIR STORY, THEIR PASSION...

On Your Feet! is the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, two people who— through an unwavering dedication to one another and their pursuit of the American dream— showcased their talent, their music, and their heritage to the world in a remarkable rise to global superstardom.

SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC SONGS OF ALL TIME... Featuring music by Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, and Miami Sound Machine, including Grammy Award winning songs “The Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “Anything for You,” “1-2-3,” “Get On Your Feet,” and “Here We Are.” Prepare to be on your feet from start to finish!

Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken - Twenty | The Tour David Sedaris

NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken are thrilled to reunite 20 years after captivating audiences during their historic run on the second season of Fox’s American Idol in 2003. Due to overwhelming demand, and on the heels of the first leg of their critically acclaimed Twenty | The Tour, the multi-platinum recording artists are hitting the road again for the second leg of their reunion tour. From Clay’s iconic rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” to Ruben’s soulful single “Flying Without Wings,” join America’s favorite odd couple for an unforgettable evening of music and memories, delivered as only these true superstars can.

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

One of America’s pre-eminent humor writers with over 16 million copies of his books in print, David Sedaris is a master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers. Beloved for his personal essays and short stories, he has been nominated for five Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. He has been awarded the Terry Southern Prize for Humor, Thurber Prize for American Humor, Jonathan Swift International Literature Prize for Satire and Humor, Time 2001 Humorist of the Year Award, and the Medal for Spoken Language from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

608-6888

B10 Friday, October 6, 2023 Mountain Democrat mtdemocrat.com Tickets available online or call the box office: HarrisCenter.net (916)
Photo by David Grenier Photo: DJ Corey Photo: DJ Corey

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